1. America Secedes from Empire

2. 2nd Continental Congress
May 1775
Philadelphia
All 13 represented
Raise money
Recognized the colonial militia as the Continental Army
George Washington as commander

3. Bunker Hill British Deadliest battle of the war 3,000
June 17, 1775
British
3,000
Frontal attack up hill
Americans
1,500 men
Ran out of gunpowder
Deadliest battle of the war
1,000 British casualties colonists casualties

4. Cont. Many still hoping for peace
Sent an Olive Branch Petition to king
King George III - rejected petition
Passed proclamation saying colonists were in rebellion
Urged parliament to order naval blockade
Hired Hessians

5. Canada Invasion of Canada 14th Colony 2,000 American troops
Montgomery
Benedict Arnold
14th Colony
2,000 American troops
Offensive Warfare

6. Common Sense John Locke Thomas Paine Republicanism
People have right to life, liberty, and property
Social Contract
Thomas Paine
Common Sense --- pamphlet
Attacked King George
Create a better society --- free from tyranny
500,000 copies
Republicanism
Popular consent
Collective good of the people

7. Jefferson 1776 Congress urged each colony to form its own government
“United Colonies”
Richard Henry Lee
Prepared Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”
“Unalienable Rights”
“All Men are Created Equal”
July 2, Colonies were free
July 4, Adopted the Declaration of Independence

8. Declaration of Independence
Imposing taxes
Trial by jury
Military dictatorship
Standing armies
Mercenaries
“World’s greatest editorial”
“Shout heard round the world”
Inspiration to countless revolutionary movements

9. Opposition Loyalists / Tories Patriots / Whigs Opposed independence
Loyal King George III
Judges, Governors
Patriots / Whigs
Supporters of independence
Political and economic opportunity
Militia = agents of Revolutionary ideas

10. Cont. Patrick Henry Loyalists = Anglican Church strongest
“Give me Liberty, or give me Death”
Loyalists = Anglican Church strongest
New York, Charleston, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
Patriots = Presbyterianism / Congregationalism
New England

12. Battle of Long Island July 1776 British focus on N.Y.
500 ships
35,000 men
Outnumbered, outmaneuvered
Washington retreats – regroups
Recrossed Delaware River
December 26, 1776
Surprise attack

13. Saratoga John Burgoyne --- British Commander
Lead army down from Canada to Albany
Planned to meet up with British troops as they arrived from New York
General Howe – Advance up Hudson River
St. Lawrence River = Lake Champlain
transportation

14. Cont. Patriots rallied to attack Burgoyne Benedict Arnold Flotilla
Washington
Valley Forge
Train soldiers
Baron Von Steuben
Surround Burgoyne
Militiamen
Surrender on October 17, 1777

15. Cont. Surrender at Saratoga Most important event of the war
France now believed that the Patriots could win the war
Signed alliance in 1778
Ben Franklin

16. Allies Colonies France, Spain, Holland Fleets now outnumbered Britain
World War
Too big for G.B. handle

17. Cont. African Americans
Some fought with Loyalists --- promised freedom
5,000 served in Continental army
Native Americans
Tuscaroras, Oneidas sided with colonists
Most supported the British
“Hair buyers”

18. Yorktown Capture Charles Town, South Carolina
British move South
Capture Charles Town, South Carolina
Cornwallis --- British General
Moved to Virginia --- Yorktown
Chesapeake Bay
Supplies
French defeat the British fleet
Blocked entrance to the Chesapeake Bay
Admiral de Grasse
French and American troops surround the British
Month later on October 19, Cornwallis surrendered

19. Peace at Paris John Adams, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin
Peace talks began in Paris 1782
John Adams, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin
September 1783
Signed the Treaty of Paris
Confirmed U.S. Independence
Set boundaries of New Nation
Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River
Canada to Florida